The Rocking Dead: A New Beginning

Chapter 25: Nobody's Fool

Tom's POV: The others exchanged words with Alpha, trying to reason with her. Of course it wasn't working. Blackie and I decided to take matters into our own hands.

"Tom, you can't send her back there." Henry exclaimed.

"We aren't." I said, motioning for the gates to open. Blackie and I approached the outer fence where Alpha and the other whisperers were standing. She looked at us smug, as if she was sure she'd won this battle.

"You ain't getting her." I bluntly said.

"Perhaps this will change your mind." She motioned for a few other whisperers to come up. When they removed two people's masks, Luke and Alden, two hilltop residents, were underneath. I looked up at Tara and the others on the guard post. We all had the same horrible idea.

We've got to send Lydia back.

Blackie and I walked back inside to retrieve her. While Daryl went off towards the prison, we noticed a commotion going on in the field. Connie must have grabbed the baby Alpha forced another whisperer to leave behind.

"Tom, we've got a problem!" Tara exclaimed, "We can't find her."

"She escaped?!" I asked.

"She must've. Henry's gone too." Magna chimed in.

"That little fucker." Blackie said.

"I'll go look for them." Enid said, "He'll listen to me. I know it."

"Just go, fast." I said, "Daryl, Magna, Blackie, we gotta go get Connie." We all ran to escape out the back so Alpha wouldn't see us. It's crucial that we help Connie, she's deaf. It's nearly impossible for her to sense the walkers surrounding her, we've got to get her out.

It didn't take us long to find her and help her escape the corn field, sneaking her in the back. A while later, Enid returned with Henry and Lydia. I grabbed ahold of her to help escort her out.

"I'm sorry for this." I whispered so only she could hear.

"It's ok." She replied, "It was bound to happen." The gates open and I drug her out, making it seem like we were disgusted by her. The whisperers let Luke and Alden go as Lydia walked up to her mother. The two exchanged words before Alpha suddenly slapped Lydia. I flinched in anger and pity. I want nothing more than to punch Alpha as revenge for what she does to Lydia.

"You call me Alpha like all the rest." She said into her ear.

"Yes, Alpha." Lydia replied. I scowled at her before walking back in.

"Do you wanna take the baby back with you?" Tara asked, Connie standing next to her with the baby.

"No, we've got Jelly and Penelope to worry about." I replied.

"What about Axl?" Blackie chimed in. "I remember him talking about how much he loves the girls and wishes he had one himself." Blackie had a point. Axl is such a great father figure to the girls, and be always talks about how he's always wanted a child.

"Ok. We'll take it back with us. Can't hurt to have another little one, right?" I answered. Connie smiled she handed me the sling holding the infant. I wrapped it around me before Blackie and I left to get back home.

When we arrived, Blackie took the baby from me and went to find Axl. I noticed the instruments Eric found were out in the main room, so clearly someone was messing with them.

I couldn't help but be tempted. Sitting down on one of the chairs, I fooled around with the guitar. It's been years now since I've picked one up, so needless to say I was surprised I could still play. Within moments I found myself playing the chord for "Nobody's Fool", singing along as I went.

The only thing that slightly distracted me was the sound of a bass behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Eric, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, smiling at me as he played his chords. As the song continued, Joan joined us on guitar and Sebastian played drums. The girls were sitting on the steps, Jelly smiling as wide as possible. Blackie, Jeff, and Nikki stood nearby as Axl held the baby in his arms. Everything seemed so natural. I must admit, it felt good to play again, as if everything going on around us just washed away for the duration of the song.

When we finished, the room went silent. I turned my head towards the ceiling and closed my eyes, taking in the few moments of serenity we had.

Eric was right. Maybe we should do this more often...